Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the Law and the Prophets.
We distill cider and wine into hard alcohol, coca into cocaine and cocaine to crack. We extract nicotine from tobacco to make stronger cigarettes; excitement from love to make pornography; persuasive reasons, to talking points; information, to factoids; and news into sound bites.
Can we also boil down the gospel to this Golden Rule? Some people have assured me that is precisely what Jesus meant. The customs and practices of the church with its tiresome congregations and overbearing clerics can be sidestepped in favor of these eleven words?
But just as alcoholics know nothing of the pleasures of alcohol, sexual addicts have no joy in love and those who hear nothing but sound bites are sadly misinformed, the Christian without a deep knowledge of “the Law and the Prophets” will do all the wrong things and offer all the wrong help. She will not know “whatever you would have them do to you” because she would not know her own needs as an inspired disciple of Jesus.
Some would reinterpret the Golden Rule as “enlightened self-interest;” but that rarely goes far enough. James A. Michener said of the Christian missionaries who went to Hawaii, “They went to do good and they did very well indeed!” While the Hawaiians remained in their poverty the missionaries and their descendants prospered as bankers, lawyers and land owners.
The one who remains apart from the community – be it church, family or neighborhood – cannot imagine the needs of others. When she does for others she will dole out books to people who can’t read and shoes to those who can’t walk because she likes to read and thinks everyone needs to walk more. And if her bank account is fattened by the deal, what’s the harm of that? Every year the NFL gifts thousands of people with free t-shirts and sweatshirts, adorned with the name of the losing Superbowl team. These gifts to the poor are a tax write-off.
Charity, if it is to do any good, demands rigorous honesty, personal discipline, research into what might be truly helpful, and willing obedience to the Holy Spirit. It does not permit a hidden agenda of self. Doing for others feeds the hungry because there is no difference between my hunger and yours. A hungry mouth should be fed. A grieving soul should be heard; a lost sinner should be found; injustice should be undone. For the Christian, “My life is not about me or my needs; it is driven by the Holy Spirit and my concerns are the concerns of all.”
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.